Damping means for railway trucks



Nov. 13, 1951 J. c. SETTLES ETAL I 2,575,137

DAMPING MEANS FOR RAILWAY TRUCKS Filed Oct. 15, 1945 2 Sl'lEETS-SHEET l gwvmam LZ 6156/2795, 62 A .017",

J. c. SETTLES ET AL DAMPING MEANS FOR RAILWAY TRUCKS Nov. 13, 1951 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Oct. 15, 1945 Patented Nov. 13, 1951 DAIWPING MEANS FOR RAILWAY TRUCKS James C. Settles and Claude L. Orr, Columbus, Ohio, assignors to The Buckeye Steel Castings Company, Columbus, Ohio Application October 15, 1945, Serial No. 622,434

This invention relates to improvements in railway trucks, and more particularly to means for holding the friction wedges or shoes of damping means in the wedge pockets of a bolster (in opposition to the pressure of the wedge springs) while the bolster is being applied to, or removed from, the side frame.

The primary object of the invention is to improve the damping means retaining structure disclosed in our application, Serial No. 592,678, dated May 8, 1945.

In general, the improvement consists in providing for the use of two retaining pins to hold each friction wedge or shoe in a pocket of the bolster, against the pressure of the wedge spring, while the bolster is being introduced into, or removed from, the side frame. In our earlier application, a single retaining pin is used near the bottom of the friction wedge. It is important that the overall width across the two friction wedges be less, with the retaining pins applied, than the width between the side frame columns, in order to permit easy application or removal of the bolster end, in the side frame bolster opening. Our improved construction in which two retaining pins are used with each shoe or wedge, satisfactorily retains the wedges within the desired limits with allowance for the usual manufacturing tolerances because there will be no tendency of either wedge to pivot about a, single retaining pin.

Additional objects, advantages and features of the invention reside in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts involved in the embodiment of the invention, as will be apparent or understood from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in longitudinal vertical section, of the medial portion of the side frame of a railway car truck with our improvements incorporated in such truck.

Fig. 2 is a transverse horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view of an end portion of the bolster, forming part of the- Referring to the drawings, 6 designates a trusstype side frame of a. railway truck provided with 10 Claims. (Cl. 105-197) spaced bolster guide columns 1 arranged at opposite sides of a bolster opening 8. The spring seat 9 of each side fram supports truck springs I0 positioned within the bolster opening. A bolster end or arm I I extends into the bolster opening, rests on the springs and is guided by the columns 1. At each side of the bolster arm or end, a pocket I2 is formed for the reception of a friction wedge 0r shoe I3 and each of'the wedges has its reduced end at the top thereof. Each wedge also has a vertical face I4 to frictionally engage a vertical wear plate I5, fixed to the guide column. The wedge also has an inclined upper face I6 slidably engaging a, complementary inclined face I 1 formed by the bolster and arranged in the pocket. As may be seen from Fig.

1, the inclined surfaces I6 and I1 converge downwardly, and each of the surfaces I6 is slightly convex, as indicated at I8 in Fig. 6, to allow the friction wedge-to rock relatively to the bolster and to permit the bolster to rock relatively to the side frame. 3

' "i'ne bottoms of the bolster pockets are provided with inclined surfaces I9, which are substantially perpendicular, respectively, to the inclined surfaces I1 and converge upwardly to serve as supports for the bases of springs 20, preferably of coil type. The upper ends of the springs bear against sloping surfaces 2I in the tops of the wedges, parallel to the surfaces I9. With this arrangement, it is obvious that the springs 20 diverge upwardly and are substantially parallel to the inclined surfaces I6, I! of the wedges and bolster.

Holes 22 and 23 are provided in the friction wedges and bolster, respectively, on the axes of the wedge springs 20 for insertion of bolts (not shown) by means of which the springs 20 are compressed so that upper and lower retaining pins can be inserted in the then aligned upper and lower friction wedge and bolster holes 24 and 25, and 26 and 21, respectively. After the retaining pins (not shown) are in place, the bolts, which were passed through holes 22 and 23, are removed and the bolster is then applied to the side frame, by introducing the bolster end into the lower portion of the bolster opening and then raising the bolster to bring the vertical surfaces Id of the friction shoes into confronting relation with the wear plates I5 of the columns I. Then the retaining pins are removed from the holes 24, 25, 26 and 21, so that the force of the springs 20 is exerted against the side frame columns, in order to produce the desired damping action. 1

frame, or small blocks (not shown) can be placed on top of the friction wedges---.and-- the bolster jacked upward so that the blocks bear against the part 29 of the side frame. .The wedge spring pressure on the pins passing through holes 'll and 25 can be released by prying sideways between the side frame columnsand substantially vertical abutment faces 30, provided for this purpose, on lugs 3|, provided at the top of-"thefriction wedges.

:The, same procedure-asdescribed-above for releasing spring pressure on the retaining pins may be-used-..to compress the wedge springs-- and align'the holes -24 to 2'! to: permit the insertion of-xthe retaining pins when the bolster is tobe removed from the side frame. Fig.1 1-. shows .the position of the :fricticnwedgeswith the-'rbolster applied to the side-frame and theretaining pins removed. Itshould be evident,-r.however,:from the; above description that compression; of -wedge springs" 20, as described; :will align;.the'ho1esii2.4, 25 and 26;21 to: permit .applicatiorrbf the retaining-pins.

I It will be noted" that each wedge: shoe has a singlezupstandingrlug 3 h arranged between a'pair ofupwardly projecting lugs 31w on'ithe bolster, and in accordance with the 'inventiomthe holes 24 are in' the lugs of. the: wedgesshoeswandi the holes 25in the lugsof the bolster. As best'shown in Fig. 3, the top member 29 of the-side frame is of inverted channel section andof-siiffi'cient width to permit the lugs 3i and 3Ia to -pass be tween the vertical flanges 32zand 3.3:of the channel when the bolster is raised :to' -the topof' the bolsteropening, in-order to apply orremove the bolster supporting springs 10.

-'While we have disclosed the invention in a practical embodiment,-it will be understood that thisis exemplary and that changes of construction and proportions of parts'and equivalents,

mechanical or otherwise-maybemade therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, exceptas may be more specifically indicated in the appended claims.

What we 'claimand desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

'1. In a, railway car truck, a side frame-mem ber provided with-bolster guide columns'arranged atopposite sides of a bolster opening; a bolster portion" extendinginto-said opening and having provided with horizontal apertures, and other lugs projecting upwardly from the -wedgesand=having horizontal apertures adapted -to be" brought into alignment "with the apertures of-the -bol'ster portion to receive retaining pins 'for holding-the last-mentioned spring mean in-compressed-condition, one of the lugs of one of the wedges-ha 4 ing a substantially vertical abutment surface con fronting one of the bolster guide columns.

2. In a railway car truck, a side frame member provided with bolster guide columns arranged at opposite sides of a bolster opening, a bolster portion extending into said opening and having diverging surfaces, spring means supporting said bolster portion from the side 'frame, friction wedges arranged at opposite sides of the bolster portion and frictionally engaging said columns and said diverging surfaces, spring means posi- .tionedin. the bolster: portion substantially parallel to 's'aid'diver'g'ing surfaces and yieldingly urg- '1ingsthewedgesragainst said columns, said side frame memberl having a top portion of inverted :chanIi'eI shapeI lugS arranged at the top of the bolster -portion 'and provided with horizontal apertures, and lugs projecting from the tops'of the wedges into said channel and provided with horizontal apertures adapted to be brought into alignment with .theaperturesbfvthe bolster portion to permit retaining pins to be inserted into the holes for holding the last-mentioned spring means in-compressed condition.

3. In a railway car .truclga side frame member provided with bolster guide columns arranged at opposite sides of a bolster opening, a bolster ;portion extending into said opening and having diverging surfaces, spring means-supporting said bolster: portion from the sideframe, friction wedges arranged at opposite sides-of the bolster portion and frictionally engaging said columns and. saidzdiverging, surfaces,- spring means positioned in ;the :bolster: portion substantially parallel'to' said diverging. surfaces and yieldingly. urging thewedges againstsaid columns, said side frame member having a top portion of inverted channel shape, lugs arranged at the top or the bolster portion and provided with horizontal apertures, said lugs being movable into said channel, and lugs projecting from the tops of the wedges into said channel and provided with horizontal apertures adapted to be brought into alignment'with .the apertures ofthe bolster portion to-permit'retaining pins to be inserted into the apertures for holding the last-mentioned spring means in compressed condition.

4 4. A friction shoe for'damping a railway truck comprising a unitary member having a vertical guide-surface at one side, thereof and a.sloping surface at the opposite side thereof, saidmember having a top providedwith. an aperture, the walls of which. are substantially parallel with said sloping surfacathe underside of said top having aspring contact :surface arranged substantially perpendicular to the walls of the aperture, the top of the member having a recess communicatingwith 'the apertureand a lug projectingupwardly from the top of the member and pro-' vided-witha horizontal rod receiving aperture.

5. In a railway car truck, a column membena bolster member resiliently supported for movement alon the column member, said bolster member having-a pocket therein open towards the column member, a friction shoe 'insaid pocket;v cooperating inclined surfaces on the shoe and onithe' bolster member withinthe vpocket a spring: compressed between the bolster member and the shoesubstantially parallel to said=inclined surfaces urging the inclined surfaceon the shoe intocontact with the inclined surface on the bolster-to thereby urge the shoe towards the guide column, spaced legs on the bolster member, allug onthe shoe extending between said Q spaced. lugs, alltof. said lugs havinglpinreceiving apertures therein arranged laterally of said spring, and said shoe and bolster having pin receiving apertures therein arranged at the other side of the spring.

6. In a, railway car truck, a bolster member, said bolster member having a pocket therein open at one side of the bolster, a shoe in said pocket, cooperating inclined surfaces on the shoe and the bolster member, a spring between the bolster member and the shoe applying force to the shoe in alignment with said inclined surfaces and moving the inclined surface on the shoe into engagement with the inclined surface on the bolster member to urge the shoe out of said pocket, said bolster member and said shoe having pin receiving apertures arranged at one side of the pring, and said shoe and said bolster having pin receiving apertures therein arranged at th other side of said spring.

'7. In a railway car truck, a bolster member, said bolster member having a pocket therein open at one side of the bolster member, a shoe in said pocket, cooperating inclined surface on the shoe and on the bolster member, a helical spring open along the axis thereof compressed between the bolster member and the shoe arranged generally parallel with respect to said inclined surfaces for urging the inclined surfaces into contact and thereby urging the shoe out of said pocket, said shoe and said bolster member each havin a hole therein both aligned with the axis of the helical spring, said shoe and bolster member having pin receiving apertures therein at one side of said spring, and said shoe and said bolster having pin receiving apertures therein at the other side of the spring.

8. A friction shoe for the damping mechanism of a railway car truck comprising, a rigid member having a relatively fiat front face, a sloping surface at the opposite side of said member, a top wall for the shoe arranged substantially at right angles to said sloping surface, said top wall having an aperture therethrough with the axis of the aperture substantially parallel to said sloping surface, a spring seat under said top Wall around said aperture substantially at right angles to said sloping surface, and a lug carried by the top of said shoe having an aperture therethrough.

9. A friction shoe for snubbing movement of a member of a railway car truck comprising, a member having a relatively flat face at one side thereof, a sloping surface at the opposite side of said member, a top wall for the shoe arranged substantially at right angles to said sloping surface, said top wall having an aperture therethrough with the axis of the aperture substantially parallel to said sloping surface, a lug carried by the top of said shoe having an aperture therethrough, and the front edge of said lug being substantially parallel to said flat face.

10. In a bolster member fora railway car truck, said bolster member having a pocket therein open towards one side thereof, an inclined surface on the bolster member within the pocket, a spring seat within said pocket at right angles to said inclined surface, said bolster member having a hole therethrough with the axis thereof at right angles to the spring seat, spaced lugs carried by and extending upwardly from the top of the bolster member, and said lugs having aligned holes transversely therethrough.

JAMES C. SETTLES. CLAUDE L. ORR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,118,006 Couch May 1'7, 1938 2,169,715 Webb Aug. 15, 1939 2,378,414 Light June 19, 1945 2,378,415 Light June 19, 1945 2,407,950 Cottrell Sept. 17, 1946 

